Washing machine



March 7, 1939.

A. W. ALTORFER WASHING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 9, 1936 INVERTER- A. W. ALTORFER March 7, 1 939.

WASHING MACHINE Filed April 9, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 a 5 6 mm m H lzrszznrma. @444, 50

March 7, 1939. A, w, ALTORFER WASHING MACHINE v Filed April 9, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet .3

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March 7, 1939. A, w. ALTORFER WASHING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 9, 1936 March 7, 1939. A. w. ALTORFER WASHING MACHINE Filed April 9, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 w WQLUEMHH- ,2 I, MW

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INVERTER;

Patented Mar. 7, 1939 UNITED STATES WASHING MACHINE Alpheus W. Altorfer, Peoria, 111., assignor to Alton-fer Bros. Company, East Peoria, 111., a

corporation of Illinois Application April 9, 1936, Serial No. 73,428

30 Claims. (C1. 68-54) This invention relates to an improved mechanism and method adapted to facilitate the cleansing-of clothes or other fabric articles.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a clothes and water agitating mechanism, in association with a tub or container, whereby the water and clothes immersed therein will not only be mechanically agitated and moved about, but will in such movement be subjected to a rubbing or scrubbing action simulating the functional characteristic of the old wash or scrub-board introduced into the tub, and over the ribbed surface of which the person or washer woman would manually rub the clothes to cleanse the same.

The primary object of the invention further includes, in part, the provision of a novel method, the practice of which may be helped by the mechanism just referred to, comprising the submergence of the clothes, or other articles to be cleaned, within a body of water or cleansing fluid, thence agitating the clothes in the water to effect displacement or moving thereof, and irrespective of the character or direction of movement, presenting in the path of the movement of the water and/or clothes, barriers or obstructions, or impeding elements, a ribbed or wash-board facial conformation, compelling the clothes to directly engage or be deflected to engage some one or more of the wash-board surfaces, under a suificient pressure to result in a rubbing or scrubbing action, all to the end that however the water and clothes may be agitated or moved about within the tub, it is substantially impossible that the clothes escape a vigorous scrubbing action as nearly as possible after the fashion of the ancient and well known manual scrubbing of clothes.

Whereas attempts have been made, .or at least suggestions have been made, to the effect that clothes or fabrics may be cleansed by water action alone, it has been demonstrated that while fairly satisfactory results may be accomplished in the instance of light or frail fabrics, not particularly dirty, and where it is more or less harmful to subject the fabrics to possible damaging efiects of scrubbing mechanism, nevertheless the fabrics are not thoroughly cleaned in the absence of the utilization of substantial rubbing or scrubbing action. Again, although it may have been attempted to wash clothes without a scrubbing action, even with the imperfect results referred to, the time consumed in the attempt to wash by water action alone must be substantially greater than the time consumed in scrubbing the same batch of clothes. It has been suggested that the subjection of clothes to the rubbing or scrubbing action of mechanical devices mightharm the fabrics, but it isrecalled that the old wash or scrub-board and manual'scrubbing is probably 5 even today the best known method of securin a thoroughly cleansing operation. Furthermore, any wear on the fabrics in the machine is inconsequential when it is kept in mind that some clothes, for example, as working garments and 10 the like, cannot be cleansed without very substantial scrubbing thereof, and in instances, if any, where no scrubbing may be required, a predetermined relatively light scrubbing or rubbing of the fabrics to secure the better cleansing 15 thereof more than compensates for the little or insignificant wear that may take place incident to engagement of the fabrics with the operating parts, as compared to any attempt to secure a thorough cleansing by a lone water :0 Washing action.

With the foregoing in mind, it is the aim of the present invention to resort to" and maintain, so far as possible, in a power driven washing machine, a cleansing action like the old manual 5 wash-board operation, making it quite difiicult, if not impossible, for any article intended to be washed to escape substantial rubbing or scrubbing action at some time in its movement up and down or to and fro around the inside of the tub 30 between the same and the improved. dolly or agitating instrumentality in the tub.

In one aspect of the invention, the same includes the provision of a rotatable winged dolly provided with scrubbing surfaces, ribs or pro- 5 jections, constituting in this element of the improved machine, a unitary or combined agitator and wash-board.

The preferred embodiments of the invention include a tub having rubbing ribs projecting 40 from the inner surface of the wall thereof towards the center of the tub and running either circumferentially or vertically, or both, with respect to the tub wall, associated with an agitator or dolly, conveniently arranged centrally of the tub and having means for imparting movement to the dolly in a rotary direction, usually back and forth in oscillatory fashion, the dolly having wings or blades of appropriate shape adapted to displace the water and clothes in the tub when the dolly or agitator is actuated, the wings or blades of the dolly and/or the central portion of the dolly from which the wings or blades project, and/or the base of the dolly, or all of these elements having projecting ribs constituting rub- 5 bing surfaces over and against which the clothes are pressed and scrubbed in the traverse of the latter over the various surfaces of the dolly.

Ancillary features of the invention include the formation of the dolly blades and/or base thereof with means, as perforated portions, and in the instance of the blades with flanged or beaded edges whereby under the action of the agitator blade in passing through the water, the clothes may be drawn to the face of the blade and as the blade moves through the water, theclothes adhering to the blade will be drawn correspondingly around through the body of the water, and then as the clothes descend or ascend along the face of the blade or blades, they will be rubbed over the ribbed faces, distorted, deflected, scrubbed, etc. Also, with reference to the base of the dolly or agitator, the same preferably embodies an upwardly arched or convexed formationwith respect to the interior of the tubso that the base of the dolly is generally rounded outwardly and downwardly from near the axis of the dolly in the direction of the corner formed by the meeting of the bottom and side walls of the tub, the upper or exposed face of the dolly base having scrubbing ribs or projections, operating, as the clothes move down and over the face of the dolly base towards or into the bottom corner area of the tub beyond the peripheral edge of the dolly base, said clothes will be rubbed by the said ribs or projections under the combined oscillatory movement of the dolly and the said outward movement of the clothes, the wings or blades of the dolly being desirably of a formation to tend to confine the clothes therebetween upon segments of the dolly base so that momentarily the clothes must play or move over and upon the rubbing ribs projecting upwardly from the segment or portion of the dolly base defined by the adjacent wings or blades.

Still another feature of improvement resides in the relationship of the dolly with the bottom of the tub or container, whether or not, in keeping with alternative embodiments, the dolly is or is not marginally interfitted with the bottom wall of the tub, whereby the upper face of the dolly is stepped or, elevated, marginally, a considerable distance above the surrounding relatively lower portion of the tub bottom, so that the clothes cannot have a continuous sweeping movement from the dolly base outwardly to and upwardly along the tub wall, but are dropped off the edge of the dolly down into the area lo cated outwardly beyond the dolly and constituting the corner between the bottom and side wall, as has previously been referred to. This will constitute an abruption or impediment to any smooth circuitous movement of the clothes in the water, and result in crowding the clothes against the side wall of the tub, whence they are forced and moved upwardly as oncoming clothes displace the same, so that the clothes will be further subjected to rubbing action on the scrubbing surfaces or projections formed with or carried by the side wall of the tub.

Still other features of importance in the present invention are the formation in the tub wall of substantial horizontal, inwardly extending, circumferentially arranged scrubbing ribs on the wall of the tub adapted to impart a rubbing or scrubbing wash-board action on the clothes as the latter move either upwardly, or downwardly, or alternatively in both of these directions, over the interior face of the tub wall, one feature of the invention in this respect being the provision of rubbing ribs so shaped as to effectively obstruct and rub the clothes in either an upward or downward movement of the clothes; while another feature resides in more abruptly formed ribs, such as might be styled inverted ledges or steps, and which function to offer a greater obstructing barrier and consequently increase the rubbing action on the clothes when the clothes are ascending the tub wall as compared to a less severity of action when the clothes are descending.

Novel details and associations of parts of various embodiments of the present invention will be clear from the more detail description thereof hereinafter presented.

That the invention may be more fully understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, and wherein some embodiments of the invention are illustrated, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an improved type of machine illustrating particularly the vertical rubbing ribs formed in the wall of the tub, it being observed that in this view, as will also be true of a number of other views, such details as supporting legs, power means and driving mechanisms, etc., well recognized in the art, and constituting no particular part ofthe present invention, are omitted from the drawings;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through Fig. 1 and the dolly or agitator therein contained, somewhat more of the driving mechanism, associated with the means for adjusting the agitator or dolly, being shown in this view;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal fragmentary view, through the inwardly directed vertical rubbing ribs of Fig. l, the general line of this section being indicated at 3 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 illustrating a second embodiment of the invention wherein both vertical and horizontal or circumferentially extending inwardly directed rubbing ribs, are formed in the side wall of the tub;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view through the tub of Fig. 4, the dolly in this instance being shown in elevation, with parts broken away, it being understood that the dolly illustrated in this view is the same dolly and method of mounting thereof in the tub as illustrated in section in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view through a set of the horizontal or circumferentially extending inwardly projecting rubbing ribs of the tub shown in Fig. 4, the general line of the section, represented in Fig. 6, being indicated at 6-6, Fig. 4;

Fig. '7 is a horizontal sectional viewtaken on the line LJ of Fig. 5, looking downwardly in the direction of the arrows, the dolly being shown in plan;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view of the dolly taken on the line 88 of Fig. 5, looking downwardly in the directon of the arrows;

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view through a,

portion of one of the dolly wings to illustrate the character of the rubbing ribs or projections on the opposite faces of the wings, the line of the section being generally indicated at 99, Fig. 5;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 4, illustrating a third embodiment of the invention wherein continuous spaced series of horizontal or circumferentially extending inwardly directed rubbing ribs are utilized to the exclusion of vertical rubbing ribs, and in lieu of the interrupted circumferentially extending series of horizontal rubbing ribs of Fig. 4;

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view through the tub of Fig. 10, the dolly or agitator in this instance being indicated by dotted lines;

Fig. 12 is a side elevation similar to Figs. 1, 4 and 10, and constituting a fourth embodiment of the invention, incorporating in general the features of the form of tub illustrated in Fig. 4, wherein the side wall possesses both the vertical and horizontal rubbing ribs, the departure in present Fig. 12 being merely in the formation of the horizontal or circumferentially extending ribs, which latter are here shown as of an abrupt or inverted ledge-like formation, as distinguished from the rounded formation of Figs. 4-6;

. Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional view of Fig. 12, the dolly or agitator being shown in elevation, save for a small portion of the base which is broken away, the base of the dolly in this instance terminating above the surface of the bottom of the tub, as distinguished from interfitting with the bottom of the tub, as indicated in Figs. 2, 5, and 11; and

Fig. 14 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line |4|4 of Fig. 12 to better illustrate the modified form of horizontal or circumferentially extending rubbing beads or ledges.

Like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the figures.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, and first with reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, l5 represents the side wall of a metal tub, preferably of the suitably coated sheet metal type, having an integral bottom comprising a horizontal inwardly extending annular portion l6 merging into a correspondingly annular depression or groove l1, in turn integral with an inwardly and downwardly extending central portion l8 of the tub tapering evenly in all directions towards the center of the tub and having a drip or exit opening i9 communicating with the usual or any preferred valved drain pipe 20. The upper edge of the tub is beaded as at 2| for the p p se of strengthening the same, and the lip portion of the tub is turned over outwardly and downwardly to present a smooth, rounded edge, as at 22, this formation of the upper edge of the tub being suitable for the reception and seating of a customary lid or cover, not shown. Disposed around the side wall |5 of the tub, preferably in symmetrically arranged sets or series, are a substantial number of inwardly directed rubbing ribs 23 arranged in parallel relationship and vertically of the side wall thereof, the ribs being pressed inwardly for substantially their entire depth from the plane of the tub wall l5 so that maximum depth of the ribs may be obtained for rubbing purposes within the tub 'up to the stretching limit or capacity of the metal from which the tub is pressed or formed. It is preferable that the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 1 be used because it affords spaces between the respective series of rubbing ribs which the clothes or fabrics may enter and from which they will be forced to meet the obstruction of and rub over the ribs marking the respective ends of these intervening spaces. Again, the water entering these spaces will be dammed or obstructed'by the ribs outlining the spaces preventing sweeping or continuing movement of the water around the tub under the impelling influence of the agitator or; dolly, now referred to.

Supported centrally at the bottom of the tub is an upright tubular sealing member 24 having a hollow threaded nipple 25 passing through the bottom of the tub and a flange 26 adapted to overlie a packing 21 resting on the upper surface of the bottom. A corresponding packing member 28 underlies the bottom and is sleeved on the nipple 25, a backing plate or washer 29 of size corresponding to the flange 26 underlying the packing 28 and adapted to rest on a supporting bracket 30 or equivalent member projecting upwardly from the gear casing or housing 3|.

A nut 32 engaging the threaded end of the nipple 25 draws the latter downwardly firmly binding the packing members 21 and 28 against the opposite faces of the bottom of the tub and in supporting relationship to the bracket 30 whereby the sealing tube or member 24 constitutes a hermetically sealed or water-tight connection with the tub. The length of the tube is sumcient to project the same normally upwardly in the tub above the water line approximately indicated at XX, Fig. 2, the water contents of the tub being prevented from escaping from the tub except as permitted, usually following a. washing operation, through the drain H1.

The upper portion of the tubular sealing member 24, near the end thereof, is provided with an inwardly projecting ledge 33 on which a bearing or packing member 34 may be supported if desired. A vertical operating shaft 35 passes freely through the nipple 25 and hollow tubular portion of the sealing member 24, as well as through the supporting and bearing members 33 and 34, the upper end of the shaft extending to a point substantially above the end of the sealing member 24. This shaft 35 is adapted to constitute the immediate driving connection for the lation of the shaft 35 and associated parts to be presently alluded to, are relatively unimportant, but an instance of a suitable driving mechanism is portrayed including a gear 35 rigidly fastened as by a pin 31 to the shaft 35, this gear be-' ing meshed with a correspondingly toothed segment 38 pivotally mounted at 39 in the casing 3| and adapted to be actuated back and'forth to correspondingly rotate the gear 36 and the shaft 35 in alternating opposite directions in any manner found expedient, the prior art affording many examples of such oscillating actuating means, and which at the present time are usually of the motor driven type The gear casing or housing 3| is of a character to contain oil for the'lubrication of the *parts, and a new feature of this housing is believed to reside in the well 40 adapted to receive oil from the casing 3| and into which well the lower end of the shaft 35 is rotatably projected to rest upon position by the nut 42 impinging against the bottom of the well, some suitable packing, washer, or the like being interposed therebetween to a bearing block 4| of any suitable character conseal the well. It will be understood that by the adjustment of the device 4243, the position of the shaft in the tub, as well as the elevation of the agitating means affixed to and carried thereby may be regulated and the operation thereof determined.

The agitator (see Figs. 2 and 5), is of special shape and formation to best secure the ends desired, said dolly comprising a base-44 approximately horizontal, horizontally elongated wing or blade portions 45 of substantially uniform area throughout, vertically elongated wing or blade portions 46 of somewhat reduced area, and top laterally enlarged and extended wing portions or blades 41, the blades being of any suitable predetermined number (four being illus trated herein, see Figs. 7 and 8). They radiate outwardly from a dolly post or sleeve 48 of substantially upwardly and inwardly tapering formation, closed at its upper end 49, save for a ribbed or splined opening adapted to interfittingly receive the correspondingly vertically grooved end of the operating shaft 35, the bottoms of the grooves being closed so that the ribs or splines at the top of the dolly sleeve may rest in said grooves and be supported by the bases of the latter; A flanged cover plate 5| held in place by a screw 52 entering a correspondingly threaded aperture in the end of the shaft 35, overlies the end of the shaft as well as overlying and surrounding a somewhat reduced end of the dolly, and serves to prevent water splashing between the upper end of the shaft and the adjoining end of the sleeve, and also affording a sightly finish to the union therebetween,

it being understood that at any time the dolly should be removed, it is simply necessary to release the cap 5| and its holding screw 52, when the dolly may be lifted off the shaft, it being necessary only to raise the ribs or splines at the top of the dolly post out of the open upper ends of the grooves of the shaft, the balance of the machine remaining intact.

A steadying influence on the dolly is afforded by the enlargement 53' of the sealing member or tube 24, upon and against which enlargement a bearing ring 54 carried by the dolly sleeve 48 bears in the rotary movement of the dolly. It will be apparent, however, that this bearing ring may be carried either by the dolly sleeve, as stated, or may bev secured to the sealing tube or member 24, so that the dolly sleeve will ride around the same and bear laterally thereagainst.

A description of one of the combined dolly wings or blades .-or blade units consisting of the intimately related lower, intermediate and top portions 45, 46, 4l,--will suflice for all, in view of the fact that it is contemplated that these wings or blades, although possibly varying in number, will not necessarily vary in character either mechanically or functionally. Preflerably, although obviously not necessarily, the agitator or dolly of the present machine is made of a light, strong metallic substance, such as aluminum or an alloy thereof. With this in mind, it is desirable and the fact is, that all parts of the dolly are integrally formed together, and the relative contouring and formation of the various portions, such that the dolly will be adequate in strength and other capabilities, not only to perform the ordinary function of agitating the water and moving the clothes, but to additionally withstand the wear and tear incident to the supplemental functioning thereof in rubbing or scrubbing the clothes brought into immediate movement where water action alone is the intended predominant function in the clothes cleansing operation.

The dolly base 44 is preferably of circular outline having a convexed upper face,the face exposed to the clothes or fabrics to be washed-, Said base merging into the wider lower end of the dolly sleeve 48, and being provided with a multitude of apertures 53 passing through the same from said upper surface thereof and opening into the hollow interior of said base. The rounding or inclination of the upper surface of the base is uniformly outwardly and downwardly from a relatively high point at the center of the dolly towards the bot-. tom l6 of the tub, and into the area within the corner formed by the bottom portion l6 and side wall l5 of the tub. At the lower edge of the base 44 of the dolly there is a correspondingly circular depending flange or skirt portion 54 constituting a vertically disposed substantially elongated cylindrical portion below the dolly base adapted to serve as a complete or partial barrier to the entrance of clothes or articles beneath thedolly, the adjustment of the latter within the tub to position the flange or skirt portion 54' as desired therein, with reference to the bottom of the tub, causingt'ne positioning of the upper or exposed surface of the dolly base a substantial distance above the bottom portion "5 of the tub, so that the clothes or fabrics moving downwardly and outwardly over the dolly base will be caused to fall over the edge of the latter onto the bottom and into the area within the lower or bottom corner of the tub.

The wings or blades of the dolly are perforated throughout the various portions 45, 46, 41 thereof, as represented at 55, so that as the blades are moved in opposite directions in the actuation of the dolly, the jetting of the water within the tub through said perforations will help in causing the clothes or fabrics to be drawn towards or cling to the surface of the wing or blade from a direction opposed to the direction of movement of the wing. The outer edge of each wing throughout the full extent of the combined portions 45, 46, 41 thereof, is enlarged, flanged, or beaded to present lateral extensions 56, 51 (Fig. 8), which in themselves constitute rubbing or scrubbing elements and additionally act to bend the clothes or fabrics around the edge of the wing and to hold the same when being forced or'x-drawn by the wing through the water in the tub.

Throughout the entire length of the wings or blades of the dolly, the opposite faces thereof are provided with scrubbing members, here in the nature of horizontal rubbing ribs,after the wash-board idea-the ribs on the opposite faces of any given wing being of substantially like number and correspondingly disposed for the sake of balance, and incidentally trim appearance. These rubbing ribs are indicated at 56, see Figs. 2, 5 and 9. Similarly the dolly sleeve 48 is provided on its outer curved face, throughout the spaces between adjacent Wings or blades, with horizontal ribs 59, in. line with the ribs 56, on the wings or blades. Thus, viewing the dolly, as depicted in Fig. 5, it willbe seen that within the area marked by any two adjacent wings or blades, the latter, considering their corresponding faces, and the intermediate dolly sleeve, and the aligned or merged rubbing ribs, 58, 59- thereon, present, in operation, a ribbed rubbing-board effect throughout the width of the dolly and throughout the length (submerged vertically disposed part) of the dolly.

The wash-board idea is further carried out in connection with the dolly base 44 where, as shown in Fig. 5, radially disposed rubbing ribs 60 are provided, the same projecting upwardly above the normal upper face of the dolly base, and extending from the lower end of the dolly sleeve 48 to approximately the outer edge of the base, that edge which immediately adjoins the vertically disposed depending flange or skirting 54' projecting downwardly from the dolly base, as previously described. These ribs 60, as the dolly is rotated or oscillated against the clothes bearing on the dolly base, will effect scrubbing of the latter as the same, more or less confined by the opposite side walls constituted by the wings or blades, ride or are forced outwardly and downwardly over the upper face of the dolly base and towards the bottom comer area of the tub located beyond the periphery of the dolly.

Where it may be desirable to substantially present an absolute bar to the ingress or entrance of fabrics beneath the dolly, the flange or skirt portion 54 of the dolly may enter a ring-like groove portion I! pressed downwardly out of and from the bottom of the tub, see Fig. 2, the interfltting of the flange or skirt 54 with the groove l'l effectively closing the space outside of the dolly and within the tub from the space within and below the dolly, so far as the entrance of clothes therebetween is concerned. This entering of the flange-of the dolly into a groove in the bottom of the tub is shown in several of the embodiments of the invention, and to save repetition of description, it is stated that so far as this feature is concerned, the illustrations of Figs. 2, 5 and 11 are alike.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 13, as will be apparent upon mere inspection thereof, embraces the use of'a dolly having the substantially elongated vertical flange or skirt portion 54' constituting a cylindrical extension on the dolly base that terminates somewhat short of the upper inner surface of the bottom of the tub, the latter having in this instance no cooperating groove. For many practical purposes, this arrangement, that is, without the grooved bottom, will be suflicient to prevent undue or harmful access of clothes to the zone or area directly between the dolly and the bottom of the tub.

In the form of apparatus shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, it will be seen that in addition to the spaced 7 series of inwardly projected rubbing ribs 23', there is provided in the spaces 62 between the sets of vertical ribs, horizontal or circumferentiaily extending sets of ribs 63, it being understood that in the instance of any of these ribs, horizontal or vertical, the number of ribs may be varied in keeping with the wish of the manufacturer or the demands of the intended use of a particular machine or machines.

Referring especially to Fig. 6, it is to be noted that the horizontally disposed ribs 63 closely resemble the shaping of the vertical ribs 23 (Figs. 1-3). The ribs 33, like the ribs 23 preferably have no protrusion beyond the normal outer surface of the wall of the tub, but rather project inwardly away from the inner face of the wall of the tub to the maximum extent permitted by the pressing operation forming the ribs, that is, without damage to the metal, when the ribs are pressed,

to the end that the ribs may be as deep as possible to better rub or scrub the clothes and fabrics. Conveniently the ribs are rounded somewhat at their innermost edges or extremities so as not to harm the clothes or fabrics, the opposite faces of the ribs being alike, however, so that the rubbing or scrubbing action will take place similarly in a vertical direction up or down over the inner surface of the wall of the tub or back and forth in the general directio horizontally over or around the inner face of the wall of the tub. In the instance of the embodiment of the invention in Fig. 4, it will be clear that hardly any washing action or movement of the water and clothes in the tub can take place without encountering, in the direc tion of movement of the clothes ,or fabrics, many of the rubbing ribs, horizontal and vertical, or both, to accomplish the very substantial rubbing or scrubbing action on the clothes. sion of the vertical ribs 23 and the horizontal ribs 63 of the form of invention illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, inwardly to substantially the same degree from the normal outside surface or plane l5 of the tub, is clearly illustrated in the horizontal sectional view, Fig. '7, in which view, considered in connection with Fig. 8, the four wings or blades of the dolly, the plan view of the same, and the cross sectional shape of said wings or blades are made apparent.

That embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11 of the drawings differs from the embodiments illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4 in the essential particulars that no vertical rubbing ribs are here employed and instead of having the horizontal or circumferentially disposed series of ribs in distinctive circumferential sets, as illustrated in Fig. 4, necessitated by the interposing of the sets of vertical ribs therebetween, the similar horizon tal or circumferentially disposed rubbing ribs of Figs. 10 and 11 are endless, that is, the respective ribs run continuously around the side wall of the tub. The formation and shaping of the ribs in this instance, designated 64, are after the fashion heretofore discussed in connection with Figs. 3 and 6 to the extent that they are pressed from the metal of the side wall inwardly to the full depth of the ribs, so as to take advantage of the permissable size of the ribs on the inside of the tub and have no projections extending outwardly beyond the normal plane of the outside surface of -the wall of the tub.

Differentiated from the rounded ribs, vertical and horizontal, hereinabove discussed in connection with the other embodiments of the invention, and wherein the like rubbing or scrubbing action o the clothes is obtained through the medium of the uniform formation of the ribs, with respect to the opposite faces of the ribs, it will be noted that the final illustrated embodiment of the invention, Figs. 12, 13 and 14 incorporates horizontal rubbing ribs 65, the shape of which is such that a more severe scrubbing action on the clothes or fabrics will be had in one direction vertically upwardly of the tub than in the opposite direction vertically thereof. The ribs in the instance of Figs. 12, 13 and 14, are, as related in preceding instances, pressed out of the metal forming the side wall of the tub and are in spaced series to be interposed between correspondingly spaced sets of vertical ribs 23 quite like the illustration of Fig. 4. In the latter instance, the respective series of horizontal ribs are in spaced sets, as shown in Fig.1: whereas in Figs, 12, 13 and 14, the ribs are a continuous series of like evenly spaced ribs.

The ribs of Figs. 12, 13 and 14, have relatively The protrusharp bends 66 constituting rather abrupt shoulders or inverted ledges opposed to the tub con tents in any upward movement of the latter within the tub. The opposite walls of the ribs that connect with the abrupt or shoulder portions thereof note particularly Fig. 14) slope outwardly and upwardly in a relatively gradual inclination to meet with the adjacent abrupt or shoulder portion of the adjoining rib. In the formation of the character just described, the movement of water or clothes, or other tub contents downwardly over the side wall of the tub while being faced by a scrubbing action against the ribs, will, however, not be so severely scrubbed as where the clothes and tub contents are moving upwardly along the side wall of the tub against and over the abrupt shoulder. Here, again, pressing of the rubbing ribs inwardly of the side wall of the tub enables the same to project as far as possible into the cleansing area within the tub, while the outer face of the side wall of the tub is devoid of projections protruding beyond the normal plane thereof.

In a machine of the nature here under consideration, wherein there is a beating about of the water and clothes and as a consequence the normal agitated load in the tub always has a tendency to obscure the exact movement of travel of the clothes, and inasmuch as in the present instance, the clothes and water are beaten away from the dolly and subjected to the deflecting or turning or bending action of the many rubbing beads and ribs, it is difflcult to state with assured accuracy the definite course of travel of the articles being washed while in the tub and under the agitation created by the driving of the wings or blades of the dolly through and against the clothes under the customary rapid water drive relied on herein and as well known-in the art. However, a study of the machine in operation under normal conditions enables pointing out certain factors or theories of operation that will make the invention understood in all important aspects, and to which allusion will be made with the understanding, however, that although the theory may not be accurate in every particular, the invention is not to be understood as restricted to the recited details of the theory of operation.

The tub being supplied with water (or other cleansing liquid) to the intended water line, or in proximity thereto (Fig. 2), and the normal load of clothes being introduced into the machine and submerged in the water, the oscillation of the dolly, previously running or then set in motion,

will forcefully agitate the water and its contents indiscriminately and indefinitely, but generally radially back and forth and around the tub so that the clothes are brought into intimate contact with .the various rubbing ribs, beads, etc., of the agitator and tub wall and drawn through the water and scrubbed. The agitator, wings or blades, are, as was previously noted herein, rotated through a sufllcient arc of a circle to have each blade in its oscillating movement pass by at least two sets of the vertical ribs, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 4 and 'l, and 12, whereby the water is dammed or obstructed by the end ribs of adjacent sets. Apparently the water is less turbulent in the area adjacent theinner face of the wall of the tub and in the space between the adjacent sets of vertical ribs than immediately adjoining the dolly where the action of the water is comparatively violent. With no decided definiteness 'or regularity in point of time of movement, the clothes may be said to work downwardly over the ribbed faces of the dolly, wings and sleeve, and outwardly over the ribbed outwardly and downwardly curved base of the dolly, in which travel the clothes are very clearly subjected to a beating back and forth in the direction of oscillation of the dolly and over the wash-board-like surfaces presented by the dolly in the area between two adjacent wings, the clothes finding their way under pressure of other clothes thereabove down into the bottom portion of the tub outwardly beyond the dolly, thence working upwardly over the wall of the tub and subjected to rubbing action against the vertical ribs and horizontal or circumferentially disposed ribs projected inwardly from the wall of the tub. In the tub of Fig. 1, the rubbing action, so far as the tub wall is concerned, is accomplished by the movement of the clothes around the tub in contact with and across the vertical ribs, there being no horizontal ribs to provide any rubbing by the tub wall in a vertical direction in this figure. In the form illustrated in Fig. 10, vertical rubbing alone is relied on, so far asthe tub itself is considered, because here the inwardly projecting ribs, as already brought out, are all horizontal or circumferentially disposed. However, in the forms illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, and 12 and 13, provision is made for the rubbing action of the clothes in substantially every direction in which it is possible for the clothes to shift about with or in the water. In these forms the rubbing action of the clothes will take place as the clothes move down over the faces of the dolly wings and sleeve and between the adjacent pairs of wings, as the clothes move over the dolly base, and as the clothes move upwardly or in instances downwardly over the wall of the tub and across the horizontally disposed ribs and as the clothes move around or back and forth within the tub over the vertical rubbing ribs located between the horizontal ribs, as already observed.

In the actuation of any or all of the dollies disclosed herein, and where perforations or openings are provided in the wings or blades, the water passing through the openings in the movement of the blades will draw or hold the fabrics or the clothes or other articles close to the ribbed faces of the blades and around the beaded or rubbing edges of the latter, and as the clothes move and contact each other, the clothes immediately adjacent to the rubbing-board faces of the dolly descend, or at times ascend over said rubbingboard faces to bring about the scrubbing of the clothes, other fabrics and clothes eventually taking their place against the rubbing surfaces as they succeed previously rubbed and displaced clothes or fabrics.

Apparently one reason for the greater agitation of the water adjacent to the dolly, and the dimculty of demonstrating that any piece of material,

garment or fabric will travel a given circuitous route in the operation of the machine is the fact that the enlarged top portions 41 of the dolly wings or blades radially project outwardly into the water and clothes in the tub, partly above and vation of the clothes and the movements thereof satisfactorily shows the ultimate approach of the clothes to some portion of the dolly resulting in the vigorous rubbing action and consequent cleansing of the clothes.

From the foregoing description, it will be clear that while the old wash-board theory of operation in cleansing clothes, has been perpetuated by the present invention, and utilized in various embodiments of the invention herein illustrated, nevertheless, the forming and arrangement of the parts constituting the operating and rubbing elements are such that the clothes or fabrics being washed in the machine cannot be damaged; they will be thoroughly cleansed; and the saving in the time and expense of operation will outstrip any such consideration as some possible slight wear on the clothes resulting from the principle and functioning of the scrubbing action.

I claim:

1. In a washing machine for fabric materials or articles, a tub, a dolly arranged to be oscillated in water in the tub comprising a base and upstanding radially disposed wings thereon, the tub wall having rubbing formations disposed sub- ,stantially throughout the heighth of the tub and comprising a plurality of inwardly projecting ribs, and the base and wings of the dolly having rubbing formations comprising a plurality of radially projecting ribs, the respective ribs being adapted upon the oscillation of said dolly to create a substantially universal rubbing condition upon the materials being cleansed as they are caused to successively contact said tub and dolly rubbing formations.

2. In a washing machine, a tub, agitating means associated therewith adapted to assist in efiect- 'ing movement of the tub contents in part vertically of the tub wall, said wall having circumferentially disposed inwardly extending rubbing projections for engagement of fabric materials or articles placed in the tub, the opposite walls of the rubbing projections being shaped and correlated to present an abrupt shoulder or wall facing the tub contents in one vertical movement thereof and a less abrupt opposite wall to present less severe opposition to the tub contents in the reverse movement thereof.with respect to the tub wall.

3. In a washing machine, a tub, agitating means associated therewith adapted to assist in effecting movement of the tub contents in part vertically of the tub wall, said wall having circumferentially disposed inwardly extending rubbing projections for engagement of fabric materials or articles placed in the tub, said rubbing projections having an abrupt shoulder or inverted ledgelike portion connected to the corresponding abrupt shoulder portion or adjoining projection by a relatively long gradually tapering wall portion.

4. In a washing machine, a tub, an agitator comprising a post and a wing projecting from the side thereof adapted to rotate about a vertical axis in the tub and having a rubbing-board surface extending a substantial distance along said post having horizontal rubbing ribs to oppose materials moving along the axis of the agitator.

5. In a washing machine, a tub, an agitator comprising a post and a wing projecting from the side thereof mounted to rotate about a vertical axis in the tub and having a ribbed rubbingboard surface extending a substantial distance along said post, the ribs extending transversely of said post.

6. A rotatable winged agitator having a vertical sleeve portion from the side of which the wings project, said sleeve portion having a washboard-like surface adjacent the inner edges of the wings, said washboard-like surface having horizontally disposed rubbing ribs to oppose materials moving along the axis of the dolly.

'7. A rotatable winged agitator having a vertical sleeve portion from the side of which the wings project, said sleeve portion having a washboard-like surface adjacent the inner edges of the wings, said washboard-like surface having horizontally disposed rubbing ribs to oppose materials moving along the axis of the dolly and the faces of the wings having similar washboard-like surfaces.

8. A rotatable winged agitator having a sleeve portion from which the wings project, said sleeve portion having a washboard-like surface and the adjacent faces of the wings having similar washboard-like surfaces, the washboard-like surfaces comprising substantially aligned rubbing ribs extending across the opposite faces of the wings and over the intermediate face of said sleeve.

9. A rotatable winged agitator having washboard-like surfaces on the faces of the wing, outer free marginal edge portions of the wing having rubbing projections extending in opposite directions beyond the normal faces of the wing, the washboard-like surfaces on the wing being horizontally disposed and leading to said marginal rubbing projections.

10. A rotatable rubbing-board agitator for washing machines including a vertical post having horizontally disposed scrubbing ribs on the surface thereof extending in a direction around the axis of rotation of the post and agitator wings extending outwardly from said post.

11. A rotatable rubbing-board agitator for washing machines including a vertical post having horizontally disposed scrubbing ribs on a surface thereof extending therearound, and ribbed wings diverging from said post and connected thereto.

12. A rotatable rubbing-board agitator for washing machines including a vertical post having horizontally disposed scrubbing ribs on a surface thereof extending therearound, and ribbed wings diverging from said post and connected thereto, and a base portion also connected to said post convex on its exposed face and provided thereon with rubbing projections.

13. A rotatable winged agitator having an elongated vertical sleeve provided with horizontally disposed rubbing ribs extending circumferentially of the sleeve and wings radiating from said sleeve provided with similarly disposed rubbing ribs, the sleeve and wings being arranged to provide a vertically disposed trough-like rubbing-board with substantially continuous rubbing ribs extending over the said sleeve and adjoining faces of the wings.

14. A rotatable winged agitator having an elongated vertical sleeve provided with horizontally disposed rubbing ribs extending circumferentially of the sleeve and wings radiating from said sleeve provided with similarly disposed rubbing ribs, the sleeve and wings being arranged to provide a vertically disposed trough-like rubbing-board with substantially continuous rubbing ribs extending over the said sleeve and adjoining faces of the wings, the agitator also having a base, the segment'of which located at the lower end of the sleeve and bordered by said adjacent wings also having rubbing projections on its exposed surface and constituting a horizontal continuation of said trough-like rubbing-board, the sleeve flaring or enlarging somewhat in a downward direction and merging into said base, the base in turn inclining outwardly and downwardly towards the area marked by the meeting of the bottom and side walls of the tub.

15. A rotatable winged agitator having a vertical wing provided with upright marginal rubbing ribs projecting laterally from the face of the wing, and also provided with horizontally disposed rubbing ribs projecting similarly from the face of the wing.

16. A rotatable winged agitator, the wing having horizontal and vertical rubbing ribs on vari-' ous portions thereof, some of said ribs being spaced apart, and the consequent channels therebetween leading to other differently disposed ribs arranged transversely of said channels and projecting outwardly from the face of the wing to close the outer end of said channels.

17. A rotatable winged agitator having both horizontal rubbing rib portions and vertical rubbing rib portions projecting from each of the opposite surfaces thereof.

18. A rotatable winged agitator comprising a pair of wings, surfaces of which face each other, said surface of one of the wings bearing contrarily arranged rubbing projecting portions, and the said opposite surface of the other wing bearing similar contrarily arranged rubbing projecting portions.

19. In a washing machine, a tub, a rotatable agitating and scrubbing device mounted to turn on a vertical axis in the tub, and means for operating the same, said agitating and scrubbing device including a wing of a vertically disposed scrubbing-board type mounted adjacent to said axis and extending outwardly toward the wall of the tub, the wing having horizontally disposed rubbing projections on its face adapted to oppose materials moving up or down centrally of the tub.

20. In a washing machine, a tub, agitating and scrubbing means therein adapted to move around a vertical axis, and means for actuating the same,

said agitating and scrubbing means including a plurality of radiating thin blades vertically disposed with reference to the tub and having scrubbing-board formations on the faces of the blades with scrubbing ribs arranged horizontally and extending from near the axis of the tub outwardly substantially short of the wall of the tub whereby the materials being washed may pass around the outer edges of the blades and move up and down within the tub and be subjected to the scrubbing-board action in the course of travel with, between and around the blades.

21. In a washing machine, a tub, an agitator therein, and means for operating the agitator about a vertical axis, said agitator having a wing the front and rear faces of which are formed with substantially projected horizontally disposed rubbing ribs, the ribs on said front and rear faces of the wing being back to back. i

22. In a washing machine, a tub, an agitator therein, and means for operating the agitator,

said agitator having a wing the front and rear faces of which are formed with substantially projected rubbing ribs, the ribs on said front and rear faces of the wing being substantially alike in number and positioning and including pre-' dominating horizontalrib portions, rib portions on the respective faces extending in contrary disaid winged agitator comprising a lower vertically disposed blade portion elongated in a horizontal direction and a relatively narrow vertical elongated extension of the blade portion, the horizontal and vertical portions of the blade being provided with rubbing projections on the surfaces thereof arranged horizontally and in parallel relationship to constitute a vertically arranged Washboard throughout substantially the extent of said blade portions.

24. In a washing machine, a tub, a. winged agitator therein and means for operating the same, said winged agitator comprising a thin continuous blade having a lower vertically disposed relatively broad blade portion of substantial height throughout and projected toward the wall of the tub, an intermediate vertically disposedportion of relatively reduced width, and an upper vertically disposed portion laterally and vertically enlarged and projected toward the wall of the tub,

all of the blade portions being in substantially the same vertical. plane, and horizontal rubbing projections on both faces of said blade portions, the blade being otherwise uninterrupted throughout the extent thereof.

25. In a washing machine, a tub, a winged agitator therein and means for actuating the same in a rotary direction, the wing of the agitator being provided with rubbing ribs projecting outwardly from an operating face thereof and having apertures through the body of the wing at points located inwardly of the plane of the projections and between adjacent projections.

26. In a washing machine, a tub, a winged agitator therein and means for operating the same. said winged agitator comprising a thin continuous blade having a lower vertically disposed relatively broad blade portion of substantial height throughout and projected toward the wall of the tub, an intermediate vertically disposed portion of relatively reduced width, and an upper vertically disposed portion laterally and. vertically enlarged and projected toward the wall of the tub, all of the blade portions being in substantially the same vertical plane, and horizontal rubbing projections on at least one face of said blade portions, the blade being otherwise uninterrupted throughout the extent thereof.

27. A rotatable rubbing-board agitator for washing machines including a vertical post having horizontally disposed scrubbing ribs on the surface thereof extending therearound, and horizontally ribbed wings diverging from said post and a base portion convex on its exposed face and provided thereon with rubbing projections, the wings and base portion being connected to said post.

28. In a washing machine, a tub, an agitator operable in the tub around a vertical axis, and means for actuating the same, the agitator being provided with wings in general vertical arrangementhaving portions elongated in a horizontal direction, intermediate portions of relatively reduced width, and upper portions of relatively enlarged areas adapted to extend in part above the water line in the tub, said agitator also having a base portion extending outwardly and downwardly with respect to said vertical axis and in the areas between said wings, the horizontally elongated portions of the wings terminating near the periphery of the base portion and said last mentioned wing portions and the base having radially disposed rubbing projections'on their adjacent operating faces.

29. In a washing machine, a tub, an agitator 15 agitating and scrubbing device mounted to turn on a vertical axis in the tub, and means for operating the same, said agitating and scrubbing device including a wing of a vertically-disposed scrubbing-board type mounted adjacent said axis and extending outwardly toward the wall of the tub, the Wing having horizontally-disposed rubbing projections on its face adapted to oppose materials moving up or down centrally of the tub, and said wall of the tub having rubbing pro- 10 jections facing inwardly toward said wing.

ALPHEUS W. 'ALTORFER. 

